racism and fear: an in-depth study of native son ellis jessa mary gordon home introduction task...

Racism and Fear:An In-depth Study of Native Son

Ellis

Jessa

Mary Gordon

Home

Introduction

Task

Process

Evaluation

Conclusion

Credits

Introduction

Bigger Thomas, the main character of Wright’s Native Son, is trapped in a downward spiral that leads to his eventual destruction. He has no way to escape the poverty and racism that surrounds him. Although the novel was written during a time when racism and fear prevailed, the novel continues to cause controversy abroad, having never been out of print since its original publishing date in 1939.

This WebQuest will explore the theme of racism and fear through the use of the following: Native Son (the novel), worksheets and handouts, Native Son (the movie), historical and biographical connections, and critical analysis essays.

Home Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits

Task

Evaluate how Wright’s use of racism and fear in Native Son coupled with his sympathetic portrayal of Bigger relate to historical issues and problems of the time period in which it was written.


Process

1. Complete the Pre-Reading Response column of the Anticipation/Reaction Guide prior to reading the novel

2. Read Richard Wright’s biography and accomplishments. Highlight or take notes on what you think will be relative or on events that could have triggered his development of the novel.

3. Read Native Son and take note of seemingly important quotations that relate to the theme of racism and fear as you progress.

4. After finishing the novel complete the Quote Analysis exercise.


http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/english/ms-writers/dir/wright_richard/

Process Continued

5. Watch the 1951 movie, Native Son, starring Richard Wright as Bigger Thomas.

6. Write an essay juxtaposing the novel and the film adaptation. Consider the following questions when preparing for the essay:

What major plot points were left out in the translation from book to movie? Does this affect the meaning of the work as a whole?

Is the theme of racism and fear prevalent in both the novel and the movie? How is this theme presented?

Did you respond more to the novel or the movie? Why?7. View this PowerPoint in order to gain additional insight into

the life of an African American in Chicago in the 1940s. Be sure to notice similarities or connections between these pictures and places described in the novel.


http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0042781/

Process Continued

8. Research additional historical and critical information dealing with the oppression of blacks, specifically in Chicago, and its affect on Richard Wright and his novel, Native Son. You may want to consider the following hard copy sources:

African American Writers: 2nd Edition, Volume 2 The Encyclopedia of African American Literature Modern Black Writers: 2nd Edition Native Son: The Personal, Social, and Political

Background Novels for Students: Volume 7


Process Continued

9. Critics have said that Wright’s Bigger Thomas captured the thoughts and feelings of black society as a whole during the 1930s and 1940s. Write an in-depth essay using all of the combined knowledge that you have gained in your search to compare the life of Richard Wright to that of Bigger Thomas. Be sure to include historical information and events that are relevant. Consider the following questions when preparing for the essay:

In what ways were Richard Wright and Bigger Thomas the same in regards to social, psychological, and economic standpoints? How do these conditions influence their actions?

Was Wright’s portrayal of Bigger as the embodiment of black society meant to provoke change in American society? How and to what extent did Wright’s novel achieve awareness of the issues previously mentioned?


Process Continued

10. Complete the Post-Reading Response column of the Anticipation/Reaction Guide. Compare the answers you previously recorded to your recent answers and complete the discussion question provided on the following page.


Evaluation

Your work will be divided into three different sections in order to be effectively graded. The following attachment will expand and display the grading scales as well as an explanation of each point cluster: Grading Rubric


Conclusion

From this WebQuest, you should have explored: Biographical information concerning the life of

Richard Wright The cinematic portrayal of Bigger Thomas Historical documents and photographs that

significantly relate to the novel Your own personal beliefs on the issues of racism

within society


Credits

Richard Wright (Biography and Accomplishments)

Native Son (the Movie) PowerPoint Pictures




http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0042781/

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam011.html

Chicago Movie Theater (1940)

Recess at a Black Belt Chicago School

Ida B. Wells Housing Project in Chicago (1942)

Lower Class Chicago Flats for Rent

Apartment building in a black section of Chicago (1941)

Picket line at the Mid-City Realty Company in Chicago (1941)

H ow did reading N ative S on and completing the exercises provided in

this WebQ uest change your overall outlook on the racial issues and

problems discussed in the questions on this worksheet?

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

N ative S on A nticipation/ Reaction

G uide Pre-Reading

Response

Q uestion Post-Reading

Response

In times of struggle, is it

better to put yourself

first or think of others?

In this world, the only

people a person can

really count on are

family members.

A gree or D isagree

T he A merican D ream

is attainable by all

people.

A gree or D isagree

A nything is possible if

a person works hard

for it.

A gree or D isagree

It is better to accept

change than it is to

fight a concept.

A gree or D isagree

Q uote:

A nalysis:

Q uote:

A nalysis:

Q uote:

A nalysis:

N ative S on Q uote A nalysis Find quotes that directly relate to the issue of racism and fear that is prevalent in Native Son. Analyze the importance of the selected quotes and relate them to the meaning of the work as a whole.

Q uote:

A nalysis:

Q uote:

A nalysis:

WebQ uest E valuation T asks Points E arned T eacher C omments

A nticipation/ Reaction

G uide (C hart)

__/ 3 1-Incomplete

2-C omplete but A verage

3-C ompleted in D epth

A nticipation/ Reaction

G uide (D iscussion

Q uestion)

__/ 3 1-Incomplete



Q uote A nalysis __/ 3 1-Incomplete



T otal __/ 9

G rading S cale for E ssays 9-7 Well-developed ideas and thesis with supporting details, quotations, and

passages from multiple outside sources

6-4 Partially developed ideas and thesis lacking multiple supporting details and

quotations

3-1 U ndeveloped ideas with no supporting outside sources

Novel/ Movie J uxtaposition E ssay __/ 9

C ritical/ H istorical A nalysis E ssay __/ 9

racism and fear: an in-depth study of native son ellis jessa mary gordon home introduction task...

Documents